Materials and Methods

In this cross-sectional qualitative study, the multidisciplinary study team conducted in-depth interviews with self-identified African-American men and women over the age of 65. The study used the grounded theory method with two basic principles: (a) questioning rather than measuring and (b) generating hypotheses using theoretical coding. 22

Sample Selection

Participants were recruited using multiple methods, including distributing recruitment fliers at community health fairs, churches, senior centers, community centers, primary care clinics, dental offices, and senior residential facilities in the Portland metro area. Eligible participants were African-American, 65 years or older at the time of the interview, capable of making cognitive also used a snowball sampling technique, 23 which asked interview participants to recommend other African-American seniors who met study inclusion criteria. Participants were asked to subjectively select their social status in the community using the MacArthur Subjective Social Status Scale 24 and to complete the Mini-Cog test, a brief test of cognition. 25 Participants that met inclusion criteria were invited to take part in a one-on-one, one-hour semistructured interview at a central community location or at the researcher’s office.

Data Collection

From , a research assistant trained in qualitative methods (SH) obtained informed consent and conducted interviews using a semistructured interview guide. The interview guide was first pilot-tested and refined with the sample of African-American seniors at the 24th Annual Event of African-American Wellness Village organized by African-American Health Coalition in Portland, OR. The interview guide included a definition of oral health and asked questions about participant’s oral health history, personal history, current oral health, and where they sought dental care. Leer más